I am trying to figure out how to change the Kotoeri Romaji keyboard layout to the Japanese default layout, using an external Apple US keyboard.
I'm currently running OSX 10.6.8 on a MacBook Pro 6,2. I live in Japan and purchased the laptop along with the OS in Japan. The default language for the OS is also set to Japanese.
Currently I am visiting family in the US and have an external US keyboard which I am trying to use. Unfortunately the default Romaji layout for this keyboard in Kotoeri is set to "US". I have checked the "Kotoeri preferences" section but the romaji layout selector does not have "Japanese 106 key" or anything like that listed. It has a wide range of European layouts.
This is driving me nuts because, although the letters are in the same places, the punctuation on the Japanese layout is different, and after many years in Japan I've grown so used to programming with the Japanese layout that I can no longer touch type efficiently with the US one…
If someone could point me to a way to add options to the kotoeri Romaji layouts I'd be very grateful!
Best Answer
You can use the app Ukelele to fairly easily make a custom layout that puts the punctuation where you want it.
http://scripts.sil.org/ukelele
After making and installing a custom layout, you should be able to select it in the Kotoeri Preferences.